Red Candle Games has announced the conclusion of its alternate reality game (ARG) tied to its 2D action metroidvania Nine Sols, marking the end of a promotional effort that occurred across nearly four years.
Over time, more than 10,000 participants took part in it, which centered on the narrative of Shanhai 9000 and Chien, telling a redemption-focused story spanning thousands of years.
Red Candle Games acknowledged that many players joined the community midway through the ARG or were unfamiliar with the format altogether, making it difficult to grasp how the various puzzles, clues, and story threads fit together. To address this, the studio has released a dedicated video series that documents the ARG’s full scope.
To document this journey—and to answer the question we’ve heard most often: “What exactly was Red Candle doing with the Nine Sols ARG?”—we’ve put together a special video series. It’s a clear, accessible recap for anyone who struggled to find an entry point, or simply never had the chance to participate.
The videos include bilingual narration and subtitles in both Chinese and English. With the ARG now complete, the studio framed its conclusion as a moment of closure.
Nine Sols is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
